Refrigerating apparatus



Nov. 22, 1932. o. M. SUMMERS 1.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS I Filed July 51. 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INV NTOR B? am 2/ I M,-/M

1932- o. M. SUMMERS REFRIGERATiNG APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet I:

A ITORNE Y5.

BYWMMM orro at. summnns,

Patented N... 1932 PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATES BEFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed July 31,

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and particularly to cooling units for I such apparatus.

One of the objects of the present invention p tober 13, 1925. The evaporator also includes is to provide an improved evaporator which is smooth and readily cleaned and of pleasing appearance.

Another obJect of theinvention is to provide an improved cooling unit preferably constructed of sheet metal, which provides intimate thermal contact between the suby ig. 2 is a front view of the evaporator having the ice trays removed therefrom. Fig. 3is a side view of the evaporator. Fig. 4 is an .enlar ed cross sectional view of the evaporator ta en on the line 4--4 of Fi 3. I

Fig. 5 is a view taken in the line 55 of Fig.4, showing a method of fastening aback onto the evaporator.

Fig. 6 is a view of a plate employed in the construction of the evaporator.

Fig. 7 is a view of the plate shown in Fig. 6 after being formed into the desired shape. Fig. 8 is a view of another plate employed in the construction of the evaporator, and Fig. 9 is a view of the plate shown in Fig. 8 after being formed into the desired shape. Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 discloses a section of a cabinet illustrating the installation of a cooling unit made in accordance with the invention. The cooling unit is herein shown as an evaporator including a header or tank 10 containing a float valve mechastance to be cooled and the refrigerant there- 1929. Serial No. 382,516.

nism for maintaining a predetermined liquid refrigerant level therein. The float valve mechanism may be of the type shown in the atent to R. G. Osborn 1,556,708 issued Oc- O1 DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO FRIGIDAIRE'CORPORATION, OF DAYTON OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE are attached to the inner lining 15 of same. Also disclosed is the insulation 16 and the outer frame work or covering 17 for the in stallation. An L-shaped partition 18 providesa compartment for the evaporator and has openings 20'and 21 located therein for the circulation of air thru the compartment for cooling the rest of the food chamber or cabinet. The bonnet 22 prevents any dripping of condensed moisture from'the evaporator dripping on the food. Connections 23 and 24 extend to any type of refrigerant supply apparatus such as that'disclosed in the patent to H. B. Hull 1,648,178" issued November 8, 1927. It is obvious of course that the type of refrigerator or refrigerant supply apparatus is a matter of choice.

The header or boiler 10 is adapted to contain a liquid refrigerant preferably sulphur dioxide. The boiler is provided with flattened portions 31 having a hole in the center thereof. The collar 32 is preferably sealed on the inside circumference of the holes thru the flattened portions 31. The boiler 10 and refrigerant pipe connections 23 and 24 secured thereto are covered with, a metal of high polishability, preferably chromium altho otherssuch as nickel might be used. This surface, which is preferably plated, constitutes a smooth, hard, non-rusting finish which is very easily cleaned.

' The enclosure 11 depending from the boiler 10 is provided by hollow wall members 35 which form the freezing zone adapted to receive ice making receptacles such as ice trays. In the preferredembodiment the hollow wall members are formed of an outer sheet metal wall 36 and an inner sheet metal wall '37. These walls are preferably formed, welded together and detachably connected to the boiler 10 to provide complementary wall portions of the enclosure 11 as disclosed in the drawings. Each of the hollow wall members 35 comprises a flat plate having a raised portion 38 formed therein (see Fig. 6). This plate is then folded along the line A-A to provide the outer wall 36 of member as shown in Fig. 7. The inner wall 37 of each hollow wall member 35 is provided by forming-a raised portion 39 in a flat plate (see Fig.

8) and folding this plate along the lines Bl%, CC. D-D, E-E, F-F, G-G, H-H, and

II to produce the projections 40 as shown.

in Fig. 9. The plates 36 and 37 are then welded together along their edges so as to provide one of the complementary unitary structures which are connected to the boiler 10 as shown in the drawings. It is apparent that the members 35 areidentical but are reversed when attached to the boiler 10to provide refrigerant expansion chambers separate from one another and complementary wall portions of the enclosure 11. The upper ends of the members 35 and the projections 40 formed on these members may abut each other or may be spaced as shown in the drawings. e

The projections provided on the plate 37 divides the enclosure or freezing zone 11 into compartments 41, 42 and 43 and also serve as shelves for receiving ice trays. ber's formed in the projections 40 communicate with the Vertical chamber of the member 35 and permits refrigerant to enter the interior'of the shelves which support ice trays. The refrigerant in the shelves increases heat transfer from ice trays supported thereon.

' A plurality of indentations 45 are provided refrigerant.

In the top of each member 35 are one or more and preferably two holes 48 provided in the plate 36. Collars 49 are-welded to the plate 36 and have a small portion projecting thru these holes. The major portion how- 'ever of the collars 49 project upwardly to a point adjacent the opening in the flattened portions 31 on the boiler 10 when the memers 35 are placed in assembling relation thereto. These collars 49 have interior screw threads forming the fastening means whereby the members 35 may be attached to the boiler. A wash-er 51 is preferably placed between the two collars 32 and 49 and a connecting member 52 having screw threads thereon to co- The chain-- operate with the screw threads in collar 49 constituting in combination therewith a fastening means for the boilcr'and the hollow 7 wall members 35. Each of the connecting members 52 have hollow and preferably hexagonal passageways cooperating with the .central passageway of the collar49 to provide from the boiler to theexpansion chambers thereunder which extend rearwardly with the boiler to provide the freezing zone 11. The structure shown presents a large heat absorbing surface that is easily cleaned and affords means for conveniently spot welding the walls 36 and 37 together and provides an efficient distributing system for the liquid refrigerant about the top, sides, and bottom wall of the enclosure 11 and in the shelves supporting the ice trays.

The plates or walls 36 and 37 are also provided with holes 54 which communicatev with each other .when these plates are secured together. When the members 35 are assembled to the boiler 10 rods 55, having reduced threaded end portions 56, fit into the holes 54. These rods are firmly secured to the evaporator by nuts 57. It is-preferable to coat the rods 55 and nuts 57 with a non-rusting material such as chromium. T 1e members 35 are rigidly positioned by the rods 55 which prevent these members from being moved relative toeach other which movement if of a suflicient distance might cause loosening of the connecting members 52 fro-m the hollow wall members 53. It is to be understood that the ine'n'ibers 35 altho rigidly positioned and secured to the boiler, may be detached therefrom by loosening the connecting members 52 and the nuts 57 from the rods 55. These and other rods may be placed elsewhere about the members 35 and for instance thereabove by providing suitable ears 011 these members. 4

The ice trays have fronts 59 secured thereto and provided withhandles. These tray fronts 59 preferably extend so close to one another that no additional dividing means is neces" sary between the trays on the front side of the freezing zone or enclosure 11. If desired the back 61 (see Fig. 5) may be placed on the enclosure or freezing zone by securing corner strips 62 to the rear corners of each member 35 and by placing the bolts or other fastening means 63 thru the back and corner pieces.

Thus the interior of the freezing zone is protected from the circulating air within the 1 cabinet which is normally at a relatively higher temperature-than that within the enclosure.

The members 35 which form the'walls of the freezing zone or enclosure 11 are coated .with which the boiler and the connecting collars 49 are plated.

It will thus be observed that I have provided a very efficient evaporator which may be easily cleaned and which occupies a minimum amount of space in a'refrigerator cabinet. The evaporator disclosed may be completely concealed within the refrigerator by a bafiie or front plate as disclosed in the patent to S. M. Schweller 1,597,625 issuedAugust 24, 1926, altho it is believed that the evaporator is of such pleasing appearance as to warrant the elimination of such front covers. Furthermore this construction provides an evaporator in which substantially the entire cooling surfaces thereof are in intimate thermal contact with liquid refrigerant. It is also apparent that I have provided an evaporator having a freezing zone or enclosure formed by identical sheet metal members which are detachably connected to the header of the evaporator. This construction permits the manufacture of these members in large quantities which reduces manufacturingcosts ofsuch evaporators. The

detachable connection of these members with the header. of the evaporator also permits the removal and replacement of a section only of the walls of the freezing zone. This affords a substantial saving of material and consequently expense should one wall of the freezing zone or enclosure of the evaporator become damaged during manufacture, ship ment or service.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Anevaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a plurality of sheet metal members detachably held together to provide complementary portions forming a freezing zone, each of said members forming refrigerant expansion chambers separate from one another, said refrigerant expansion chambers having liquid refrigerant inlet and outlet connections, means formed integral with at least one of saidmembers and extending horizontally into said freezing zone to divide the zone into a plurality of sharp freezing compartments.

'2. An evaporator for refrigerating appa-' ratus includingaplurality of sheet metal members detachably'held together to provide complementary portions forming a freezing zone, each of said members forming I refrigerant v expans 1on chambers separate from one another, said refrlgerant expanslon chambers having liquid refrigerant inlet and outlet connections, means formed integral with each of said members and extending horizontally into said freezing zone a substantial. distance to divide the zone into a plurality of sharp freezing compartments.

3. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a plurality of sheet metal members detachably held together to provide complementar portions forming a freezing zone, each. 0 'said members orming refrigerant expansion chambers separate from one another,said refri erant expansion cham bers having liquid refrigerant inlet and outlet connections, means formed integral with at least one of said members and extending horizontally into said freezing zone, said means including spaced apart portions forming a'refrigerant expansion conduit communicating with the refrigerant expansion chamber in. the member from which said means is formed and providing a plurality of superimposed refrigerated supports within said freezing zone for receiving substance to be frozen.

4. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header forming a reservoir for liquid refrigerant, a plurality of sheet metal members each detachably connected to said header and providing'complementary portions forming a freezing zone, each of said members forming refrigerant expansion. chambers separate from one another and communicating with said header through said detachable connection, means formed integral with at least one of said members and extending horizontally into said freezing zone to 5. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a headerforming a reservoir for liquid refrigerant, a plurality of sheet metal members each detachably connected to said header and providing complementary portions forming a freezing zone, each of said members forming refrigerant expansion chambers separate from, one another and communicating with said header through said detachable connection, means formed integral with each of said members and extendin horizontally into said freezing zone a substantial distance to divide the zone into a plurality of sharp freezing compartments.

6. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatus including a header forming a reservoir for liquid refrigerant, a plurality of sheet metal members each detachably connected to said header and providing complementary portions forming a freezing zone, each of said members forming refrigerant expansion chambers separate from one another and communicating with said header through said detachable connection, means formed integral with at least one of said members and extending horizontally into said freezing zone, said means including spaced apart portions forming a refrigerant expansion conduit communicating With the refrigerant expansion chamber in the member from which said means is formed and providing a plurality of superimposed refrigerated supports within sald freezlng zone for receiving substance to be frozen.

7. An evaporator for refrigerating apparatusincluding a plurality of sheet metal members detachably held together to provide complementary portions forming a freezing zone, each of said members forming refrigerant expansion chambers separate from one another, said refrigerant expanslon chambers having liquid refrigerant inlet and outlet connections, means associated with at least one of said members and extending horizontally into said freezing zone to divide the zone into a plurality of sharp freezing compartments.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

OTTO M. SUMMERS. 

